Table with movable top surface and mechanism for same

ABSTRACT

A table with a moveable table surface includes: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; and a lifting mechanism mounted to the base and to the table surface. The lifting mechanism is configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position. The lifting mechanism comprises: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a spring extension finger; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface; and a spring having opposite ends, one of the ends of the spring being attached to the spring extension finger of the front pivot link and the other end of the spring being fixed relative to the table surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tables, such as coffee tables and end tables, which are placed near a seating unit to provide a support surface for the occupants of the seating unit, and more particularly relates to tables which have a table surface which moves from its conventional position atop the base of the table to a position more convenient to the occupants of the seating unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The great majority of residences today include a seating unit, such as a sofa or chair, near which is placed a table, such as a coffee table or end table. Coffee tables can provide a surface for supporting food and drink and displaying decorative items and reading materials, and can also by themselves improve the appearance of the room. Likewise, end tables can provide a support surface for these items as well as reading lamps, telephones, and the like.

One of the drawbacks of the support surfaces provided by coffee tables and end tables is the inconvenient location of the table surface relative to an occupant of the seating unit. For example, if the occupant rests a plate of food or a drinking glass on the coffee table, he must lean forward from a seated position to retrieve it; this is somewhat awkward, particularly with seating units that employ deep, soft cushions. If the occupant wishes to eat from the plate or drink from the glass, he has two options. First, he can lean over the table while eating or drinking, which is even more awkward than simply leaning over the table to retrieve the plate. Second, the occupant can grasp the plate and carefully balance it as it travels with him to the seated position, after which he must support the plate as he eats. Either of these options is unsatisfactory, as the risk of the occupant spilling food or drink onto the table, the underlying floor (which is often carpeted), or the seating unit itself, is significant.

The situation is typically no better with an end table; the occupant must twist to retrieve the plate or glass from the end table and either consume in this awkward twisted position or balance the plate or glass as it travels and resides over the seating unit. Often the difficulty is exacerbated by the presence of an armrest on the end of the seating unit that the occupant must negotiate.

Further, the typical coffee table provides no surface between occupants seated on either end of a sofa that can serve as a card or game table. Thus occupants of the seating unit utilizing the table for this purpose must twist awkwardly to reach the table.

The underlying cause of these difficulties is the position of the table surface relative to the seating unit. On coffee tables, the table surface is too low and too far forward for easy access to the occupant of a seating unit. On end tables, the table surface is placed beside rather than directly in front of a seated occupant. However, furniture styles dictate that coffee and end tables provide table surfaces in these locations.

One attempt to address this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,088 to Jackson et al., in which a coffee table is illustrated which includes a table surface that rises and moves laterally from its base to reside in front of an occupant of an adjacent seating unit. A similar table is shown in Crowther et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,452, which discloses a coffee table that has two separate table surfaces that can rise and retract independently. Each of these tabletops is moved to the extended position by a bulky mechanism that is unsuitable for many modern table styles, such as “off-the-floor” tables and tables having a base that is relatively narrow in comparison to the tabletop. For these and other examples, the mechanism would be visually exposed and thus render the table unacceptably unsightly.

In addition, the table top for many tables can be quite heavy. As a result, raising the table top can be difficult, particularly for a weak or feeble operator. Further, due to its weight, during lowering the table top can slip from the grip of the operator and slam violently into the closed position. The table disclosed in Crowther et al. includes a pneumatic cylinder attached to the table top and the lower portion of the table legs to provide resistance to the lowering action and thus prevent slamming of the table top during lowering. However, as above, this configuration is limited to table styles in which the cylinder is not exposed.

Solutions for the weight of the table top and the bulkiness of the lifting mechanism are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,086 to Hoffman et al. The table disclosed therein includes a relatively simple mechanism that enables the table to move between raised and lowered positions and to fold into a relatively small package. A spring assists with the raising movement and resists the lowering movement to counteract the weight of the tabletop. Although this design has been commercially successful, there remains a need for a mechanism with similar performance that folds into an even smaller package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a table with a moveable table surface. The table comprises: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; and a lifting mechanism mounted to the base and to the table surface. The lifting mechanism is configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position. The lifting mechanism comprises: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a spring extension finger; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface; and a spring having opposite ends, one of the ends of the spring being attached to the spring extension finger of the front pivot link and the other end of the spring being fixed relative to the table surface. In this configuration, the mechanism can fold into a very compact package, making it usable with a wide variety of table styles.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a mechanism for a table with a moveable table surface. The mechanism comprises: a base mounting bracket configured to mount to the base; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base mounting bracket; a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base mounting bracket, the front pivot link including a spring extension finger; a table mounting bracket pivotally interconnected with the front and rear pivot links, the table mounting bracket being configured to be mounted to the table surface; and a spring attached to the spring extension finger and the table mounting bracket. When the table is in the closed position, the spring extension finger extends downwardly, and the spring is in tension.

As a third aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a table, comprising: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; and first and second lifting mechanisms mounted to the base and to the table surface. The lifting mechanisms are configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position. Each of the lifting mechanisms comprises: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a transversely-extending flange; and a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface. The table further comprises a cross-member extending between and fixed to the flanges. In this configuration, the mechanism can be particularly stable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a coffee table positioned appropriately relative to a sofa and an occupant seated, the table being shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the table of FIG. 1 shown in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the mechanism of the table of FIG. 1 in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the mechanism of the table of FIG. 1 in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein the expression “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to tables that have a stationary base and a table surface which moves upwardly and laterally from the base to provide a usable raised table surface for the occupant of a chair or sofa. The table surface is moved between an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed and resides directly above and adjacent the table base, and an open position, in which the table surface maintains its horizontal disposition, raises above the table surface, and translates forwardly relative to the table surface. The height and lateral movement of the table surface are controlled by a mechanism attached to the table base and to the table surface. As used herein, the terms “forward” and “forwardly” refer to the direction defined by a vector extending parallel to the table surface of a table from the table toward an adjacent seating unit. Conversely, the terms “rearward” and “rearwardly” refer to the direction directly opposite the forward direction; i.e., defined by a vector parallel to the table surface extending from the table away from an adjacent seating unit. The term “lateral” and “laterally” refer to the direction defined by a vector originating in the center of the table surface and extending in the plane of the table surface perpendicular to the forward and rearward directions. The terms “inboard,” “inward,” and “inwardly” refer to the direction directly opposite to the direction defined above as “lateral.”

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a coffee table, designated broadly at 20, that includes a stationary base 21 that rests on the floor, a movable table surface 25, and a lifting mechanism 30 that controls the movement of the table surface 25 between the open position (shown in FIG. 2) and the closed position (shown in FIG. 1). Those skilled in this art will appreciate that this invention is not limited to a coffee table as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, instead is intended to encompass any table (such as an end table, desk or the like) for which dual positions of a table surface as described above are useful.

The base 21 includes a plurality of support legs 28, a skirt 22, and two mechanism support members 23 (only one of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The support legs 28 rest at their lower ends on the floor. The skirt 22, formed of front, rear and side panels, is vertically disposed and is fixed to the upper portions of the support legs 28 so that the outer surface of the skirt 22 is visible just beneath the rectangular table surface 25. The mechanism support members 23 are fixed at either end to upper portions of the front and rear panels of the skirt 22, such that they are horizontally disposed and extend longitudinally.

The table 20 includes two four-bar linkage lifting mechanisms 30 that control the movement of the table surface 25 between the open position and the closed position. As used herein, “four-bar linkage” refers to a series of four structures, or links, each of which is pivotally interconnected to two other links, so that the entire linkage has one degree of freedom of movement. See, e.g., Paul, Kinematics and Dynamics of Planar Machinery (Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1979). Each mechanism 30 comprises a base mounting bracket 31, a rear pivot link 40, a front pivot link 50, and a table surface mounting bracket 60. The table 20 has a plane of symmetry that is normal to the table surface 25 and parallel to and located equidistant from the lateral edges of the table surface 25. The mechanisms 30 are mirror images of each other across this plane of symmetry. For brevity and clarity, only one mechanism 30 will be described herein; those skilled in this art will understand that the description of this mechanism 30 applies equally to the mirror image thereof. Also, the mechanism 30 will be described first in the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 3, with a description of its movement to the open position of FIGS. 2 and 4 following thereafter.

The base mounting bracket 31 (FIGS. 3 and 4) includes a horizontal portion 32 and a vertical portion 33. The horizontal portion 32 is a substantially flat panel that is fixed to the underside of the mechanism support member 23 via threaded fasteners or other fastening components. The vertical portion 33 is fixed substantially perpendicularly to the inwardmost edge of the horizontal portion 32 and extends downwardly therefrom. A stop pin 36 is fixed to a generally central region of the vertical portion 33, and a projection 35 extends downwardly just rearward of the stop pin 36. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that, although a base mounting bracket is illustrated herein, any means that mounts and pivotally interconnects the rear pivot link 40 and the front pivot link 50 to the base 21 is suitable for use with this invention. Exemplary alternatives include direct pivoted attachment of these links to the base, separate mounting brackets for the front and rear pivot links, and the like.

The rear pivot link 40 is slightly bent near its center (an angle of between about 5 and 20 degrees is typical). The rear pivot link 40 is pivotally interconnected with the base mounting link 31 at a pivot 42 that is located on the projection 35 of the base mounting link 35. In the closed position of FIG. 3, the rear pivot link 40 extends rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the pivot 42 (typically, the rear pivot link 40 forms an angle of between about 0 and 25 degrees with the underlying surface in the closed position). In the illustrated embodiment, there is no cross-member attached to the rear pivot link 40 that extends transversely to the other rear pivot link 40 of the other mechanism 30.

The front pivot link 50 is a relatively straight link, and includes a vertical portion 51 and a flange 52 that extends perpendicularly from the forward edge of the vertical portion 51. The front pivot link 50 is attached to a forward portion of the base mounting bracket 31 at a pivot 55 and, in the closed position of FIG. 3, extends rearwardly and slightly upwardly therefrom (typically, the front pivot link 50 forms an angle of between about 0 and 25 degrees with the underlying surface in the closed position). A spring extension finger 53 extends downwardly from the rearward end of the vertical portion 51. A spring pin 54 is attached to the free end of the spring extension finger 53.

A cross-member 57 is fixed to and extends transversely between the flanges 52 of the front pivot links 50 of each mechanism 30. The cross-member 57, which is formed in this embodiment of steel tubing of generally circular cross-section, has flattened portions 56 on each end that facilitate attachment to the flanges 52.

The table mounting bracket 60 comprises a horizontal portion 61 and a vertical portion 62, with the vertical portion 62 being fixed perpendicularly to the lateralmost edge of the horizontal portion 61. The horizontal portion 61 is fixed to the underside of the table surface 25. The vertical portion 62 includes a downward projection 63 toward its rear. The rear pivot link 40 is pivotally interconnected with the vertical portion at a pivot 64 located on the projection 63, and the front pivot link 50 is pivotally attached to the front region of the vertical portion 62 at a pivot 65. A spring pin 66 extends transversely from the vertical portion 62 rearward of the pivot 65. A spring 67 extends between the spring pin 66 and the spring pin 54 attached to the front pivot link 50. In the closed position of FIG. 3, the spring 67 is in tension.

Those skilled in this art will appreciate that, although a table surface mounting bracket is illustrated herein, any means that mounts and pivotally interconnects the front pivot link 50 and the rear pivot link 40 with the table surface 25 is suitable for use with this invention. Exemplary alternatives include direct pivotal attachment of these links to a downwardly projecting rib of the table surface, separate mounting brackets for the front and rear point links, and the like.

The table surface 25 is a substantially planar surface that is disposed substantially horizontally. It induces a visible upper surface 80 that serves as the support surface for items resting on the table. Although a rectangular table surface 25 is illustrated herein, those skilled in this art will understand that the table surface 25 may be of any shape, such as round, square, oval, and the like, and still be suitable for use with the present invention.

In operation, the table 20 begins in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which the table surface 25 rests on the horizontal portions 61 of the table mounting brackets 60 and above the base 21. The spring 67 extends between the front pivot link 50 and the table mounting bracket 60 and is in tension; as such, it biases the table surface 60 away from the closed position.

One potential advantage of some embodiments of the invention is compact configuration of the mechanism 30 in the closed position. Generally, the table 20 will be in the closed position the large majority of the time, and will be moved to the open position only to perform certain functions, such as providing a food tray, reading desk, card table or the like. Because the table 20 is predominantly in the closed position, the appearance of the table 20 in the closed position will likely be important to the owner. In many instances it may be desirable that the mechanisms 30 of the table 20 be hidden from view in the closed position. However, it is also preferred that the pivots 42, 55, 64, 65 of the mechanism 30 be positioned so that in the closed position, all pivots are not substantially aligned. If aligned, and thus in an “on-center” condition, the table surface 25 can become locked in the closed position and thus can be quite difficult to raise. The mechanism 30 of the present invention collapses in the closed position so that the pivot 42 resides only about 3.25 inches from the visible surface 80 of the table surface 25, with the result that the entire mechanism 30 can be hidden from view in the closed position by the skirt 22 (which typically depends approximately 3.5 inches from the underside of the table surface 25.

In addition, the mechanisms 30 are sufficiently compact that they are able to fit within the periphery of the base 21. In some embodiments, in the closed position the horizontal distance between the pivots 55 and 64 is between about 14 and 18 inches. As used herein, horizontal distance means the forward-to-rearward distance between of these pivots measured parallel to the table surface 25. In such a configuration, the mechanism 30 can fit within the base of the large majority of coffee table styles.

To move the table surface 25 from the closed position to the open position of FIGS. 2 and 4, an upwardly-directed force is applied to the table surface 25. As the table surface 25 rises in response to the upward force, the table mounting bracket 60 also rises. Ascension of the table mounting bracket 60 causes the front pivot link 50 to rotate about the pivot 55 so that the end of the front pivot link 50 interconnected with the table mounting bracket 60 at pivot 65 moves upwardly and forwardly. Simultaneously, the rear pivot link 40 rotates about the pivot 42 so that the end of the rear pivot link 40 interconnected with the table mounting bracket 60 at pivot 64 upwardly and forwardly. The table surface 25 reaches its maximum height as the rear pivot link 40 and the front pivot link 50 are disposed vertically. The table surface 25 then continues slightly downwardly and forwardly. The movement of the mechanism 30 and the table surface 25 ceases as the rear pivot link 40 strikes the stop pin 36 (see FIG. 4).

Movement of the table surface 25 is aided by the tension present in the extended spring 67, which tends to urge the spring pin 66 toward the spring pin 54. Assistance for this movement can be particularly helpful to a frail operator of the table, as the table surface 25 can be quite heavy in some embodiments. Because of the location of the spring extension finger 53 on the front pivot link 50, this assistance can be achieved even in a more compact configuration for the mechanism 30 than exists in current mechanisms.

In the open position shown in FIG. 4, the table surface 25 has moved upwardly and forwardly from its position above and adjacent the base 21. The table surface 25 should be configured so that, in the open position, the table surface 25 provides a convenient and comfortable support surface for occupants of an adjacent seating unit without any adjustment of the base 21 of the table relative to the floor. In some embodiments, in the open position, the table surface 25 is displaced between about 8 and 11 inches upwardly and about 12 and 16 inches forwardly relative to the base 21 from its location in the closed position.

It has also been discovered that the inclusion of the flange 52 in the front pivot link 50 and the cross-member 57 can provide significant stability to the mechanism 30 and, in turn, to the table surface 25 when the table surface 25 is in the open position. As such, in some embodiments only a single cross-member may be employed to stabilize the mechanism 30 and table surface 25.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

1. A table comprising: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; a lifting mechanism mounted to the base and to the table surface, the lifting mechanism being configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position, the lifting mechanism comprising: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a spring extension finger; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface; a spring having opposite ends, one of the ends of the spring being attached to the spring extension finger of the front pivot link and the other end of the spring being fixed relative to the table surface.
 2. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the spring extension finger extends downwardly when the table is in the closed position.
 3. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a table mounting bracket, and wherein the rear and front pivot links are pivotally attached to the table mounting bracket, and wherein the table surface is fixed to the table mounting bracket, and wherein the spring is mounted on the table mounting bracket.
 4. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a base mounting bracket that is mounted to the base, and wherein the front and rear pivot links are pivotally interconnected to the base mounting bracket.
 5. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the base mounting bracket includes a stop pin, and wherein movement to the open position ceases when the rear pivot link strikes the stop pin.
 6. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the rear pivot link is an angled link.
 7. The table defined in claim 1, wherein the front pivot link includes a generally transversely-extending flange.
 8. The table defined in claim 7, comprising the reclining mechanism is a first reclining mechanism, and further comprising a second reclining mechanism that is identical to the first reclining mechanism, and further comprising a cross-member that extends between the flanges of the front pivot links of the first and second reclining mechanisms.
 9. The table defined in claim 8, wherein the cross-member comprises a hollow tube with flattened ends, and wherein the flattened ends are fixed to the flanges of the front pivot links.
 10. The table defined in claim 8, wherein the table is devoid of a cross-member extending between the rear pivot links of the first and second reclining mechanisms.
 11. A mechanism for a table having a table surface that can be moved between a closed position, in which the table surface is positioned above and adjacent to a base, and an open position, in which the table surface is positioned above the base and forwardly of its position in the closed position, the mechanism comprising: a base mounting bracket configured to mount to the base; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base mounting bracket; a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base mounting bracket, the front pivot link including a spring extension finger; a table mounting bracket pivotally interconnected with the front and rear pivot links, the table mounting bracket being configured to be mounted to the table surface; and a spring attached to the spring extension finger and the table mounting bracket; wherein when the table is in the closed position, the spring extension finger extends downwardly, and the spring is in tension.
 12. The mechanism defined in claim 11, wherein the front pivot link includes a transversely-extending flange.
 13. The mechanism defined in claim 11, wherein the table mounting bracket includes vertical and horizontal portions, and wherein the front and rear pivot links and the spring are attached to the vertical portion of the table mounting bracket, and the horizontal portion is configured to mount to the table surface.
 14. A table, comprising: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; first and second lifting mechanisms mounted to the base and to the table surface, the lifting mechanisms being configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position, each of the lifting mechanisms comprising: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a transversely-extending flange; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface; the table further comprising a cross-member extending between and fixed to the flanges.
 15. The table defined in claim 14, wherein each of the lifting mechanisms comprises a spring having opposite ends, one of the ends of the spring being attached to a downwardly-extending spring extension finger of the front pivot link and the other end of the spring being fixed relative to the table surface.
 16. The table defined in claim 14, wherein the cross-member comprises a hollow tube with flattened ends, the flattened ends being fixed to the flanges of the front pivot links. 